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2015-02-11

Studio Ghibli Hayao Miyazaki & Joe Hisaishi Soundtrack Box

A few weeks ago, we took a look at the newly released Isao Takahata Soundtrack Box, the soundtrack CD collection spanning the director's many animated films. Today, let's take a look at Miyazaki's box set.

Studio Ghibli Hayao Miyazaki & Joe Hisaishi Soundtrack Box, released in Japan on July 16, 2014, is the second of the studio's CD soundtrack compilations. Like the Isao Takahata Soundtrack Box, this 12-disc collection is presented in HQCD format, which is fully compatible with standard CD players (one wonders why SACD or hi-res digital wasn't chosen). All of Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli feature films are included, as well as his short film, "Mr. Dough and the Egg Princess," which aired exclusively at the Ghibli Museum.

The 12 CDs included in the set include the following:

Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind (OST)

Laputa: Castle in the Sky (OST)

Laputa: Castle in the Sky (US Disney soundtrack)

My Neighbor Totoro (OST)

Kiki's Delivery Service (OST)

Porco Rosso (OST)

Princess Mononoke (OST)

Spirited Away (OST)

Howl's Moving Castle (OST)

Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea (OST)

Mr. Dough and the Egg Princess (OST)

Bonus Disc: Kiki's Delivery Service: Seems to be Fine (Mini Drama CD)

All of the discs are the official movie soundtracks (OST), and even includes Disney's US-commissioned score for Castle in the Sky (featured on the old DVD). The bonus disc is very interesting: a "Mini Drama CD" of Kiki's Delivery Service. It's a story based on the movie, narrated by Minami Takayama, and originally published in Animage Magazine in 1989 to promote the film. A nice advantage as Tokuma Publishing owned both Animage and Studio Ghibli.

The Studio Ghibli Hayao Miyazaki & Joe Hisaishi Soundtrack Box is available in Japan, and online retailers, for 20,000Yen. All of the CDs are perfect replicas of the original soundtrack LPs (which are themselves valued collectors' items nowadays), and is packaged inside a sturdy box adorned with a Miyazaki illustration. This is listed as a "limited edition," so interested parties should consider purchasing one while supplies last.

(Credit: Thanks to GhibliWiki and Nausicaa.net for providing details on this release.)

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